New Census data reveals trends in higher education

New Census data shows that more employed women have a college degree than men.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data from its Educational Attainment in the United States: 2010. The information shows many trends in higher education.

For example, the Census reports that among employed adults ages 25 and older, more women hold college degrees than men. While 37 percent of these females have graduated from higher education programs, only about 35 percent of men can say the same.

Another academic trend that the Census data reveals is that many adults attend a university, but leave before they earn a degree. As of last year, about 17 percent of people ages 25 and over attended some undergraduate college but dropped out. In graduate school, about 4 percent leave before earning a degree.

Still, more people are seeing the value of higher education. In 2000, about 26 percent of adults had at least a bachelor's degree. Last year, this number rose to 30 percent.

Many of these students stay in school to see more job opportunities upon graduation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2008 and 2018, about one-third of occupations will require post-secondary education.